again, and it grew soft and a little smiling. Thus she lay awhile, and Walter sat by her watching her, till at last she opened her eyes and sat up, and knew him, and smiling on him said: What hath befallen, Squire, that I have slept and dreamed?
He answered nothing, till her memory came back to her, and then she arose, trembling and pale, and said: Let us leave this wood, for the Enemy is therein.
And she hastened away before him till they came out at the thicket-side whereas the hounds had been left, and they were standing there uneasy and whining; so Walter coupled them, while the Lady stayed not, but went away swiftly homeward, and Walter followed.
At last she stayed her swift feet, and turned round on Walter, and said: Squire, come hither.
So did he, and she said: I am weary again; let us sit under this quicken-tree, and rest us.
So they sat down, and she sat looking between her knees a while; and at last she said: Why didst thou not bring the lion’s hide?
He said: Lady, I will go back and flay the beast, and bring on the hide.
